Vocabulary
Bills & Laws
House of Representatives & Senate
Congress
Legislative Questions
100

Free mailing to constituents, health insurance and use of a gym is known as what?

Franking Privileges

100
What is a bill?
Proposed laws presented to the House or Senate for enactment
100
Does Congress have the power “to borrow money on the credit of the United States”?
Yes
100

Reviews spending and suggests how to improve it?

Government Accountability Office (GOC)

100
What is a bicameral legislature?
It is a legislature made up of two houses.
200
What does it mean to impeach?
To bring charges
200

What is it called when the President says no to a bill?

Veto

200
How is each state represented in the Senate?
Each state is represented equally with two senators each.
200
How long does each term in Congress last for?
Each term in Congress lasts for two years and numbered consecutively.
200
Who is the only one that may call a special session?
The President.
300

What is a lobbyist?

People who represent special interest groups.

300
True or False: Concurrent resolutions do not require the President’s signature.
True
300
What is the role of the “Speaker of the House”?
He/she is the elected presiding officer of the House and the acknowledged leader of its party.
300

What building does Congress use for research? The largest in the world.

Library of Congress.

300
A committee composed of members from both houses is called?
Joint Committee
400
What is filibuster?
The tactic to delay or prevent Senate action on a bill
400

What is a bill of attainer?

A law that punishes a person accused without a trail or fair hearing.

400
What is the role of the House and the Senate when it comes to impeachment?
The House has the sole power to impeach and the Senate has the sole power to judge in impeachment cases.
400

Elections are held in November in what numbers years?

Even numbered years.

400

Projects that are funded by the government and spent in the district or state of a member of congress?

Pork and Barrel Project.

500
What is gerrymandering?
A practice that aims to establish a political advantage for a certain party by dividing geographic areas into voting districts
500
What does the conference committee do?
The conference committee produces a compromise bill to the president when the bills both houses pass are not identical.
500
What are the “two executive powers” that the Constitution gives to the Senate?
One has to do with making appointments (must be confirmed by the majority of the senate) and the other has to do with treaties (may accept, reject, offer amendments, etc.) made by the president.
500

What are two reasons the Congress may choose to conduct investigations?

1) gather information useful to Congress in the making of some legislation; 2) oversee the operations of various executive branch agencies; 3) focus public attention on a particular subject; expose the questionable activities of public officials and/or private persons; 5) promote the particular interests of some members of Congress

500
What is eminent domain and give a hypothetical example of when it is used.
Eminent domain is who Congress has the inherent power to take private property for public use. An example is if the government wants to establish a military base in a certain area, but there are houses or buildings in the way, Congress will use eminent domain in order to build the base.
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